Jason Day puzzled by poor British Open form ahead of Royal Liverpool major tilt

Updated
Tue Jul 15 07:52:31 EST 2014

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Poor British Open form ... Australia's Jason Day.

Getty Images: Rob Carr

As far as Jason Day is concerned, the windier and wetter the better at Royal Liverpool this week.

The 143rd British Open is expected to begin in calm conditions at Hoylake on Thursday but forecast heavy rain and strong winds are expected to wreak havoc heading into the weekend.

World number five Day relishes the tough mental challenge offered up by British links golf, which is why the Australian is surprised he has yet to make any real waves in three appearances at the UK major.

"I feel like I play a bit better when the weather is kind of crappy because you have to mentally grind," Day said on Monday.

"I wouldn't say I enjoy it, but I like grinding it out.

"With these courses, it's surprising that I haven't played better on them because you have to really work your way around the course."

Day has become a perennial contender in major tournaments in recent years, except when it comes to the Open Championship.

While he has never missed the cut, he has not bettered a tie for 30th in 2011.

Spending most of the year in the US, Day believes it is simply a case of inexperience with links golf, but he sees no reason why he cannot become a British Open force.

"It's been the major I haven't really played well in," Day said.

"I think it's just going to take some time for me to adjust to how you have to play golf over here.

"It took Phil (Mickelson) 20 years or so to win his first one.

"I've just got to keep at it."

Day's appearance at Royal Liverpool had been in doubt after a flare-up of a troublesome thumb injury that forced him to withdraw from the Greenbrier Classic earlier this month.

"It was just more of a precaution really to make sure I'm 100 per cent for this week," Day said.

"Obviously the majors are huge."

Day cancelled a scheduled practice round at Hoylake on Monday but said that was to focus tightening up his short game on the practice greens.

While the 26-year-old is still searching for a maiden major title, his consistency at the highest level is astonishing.

A tied-fourth at the US Open was his fifth top-four finish at a major, while he has seven top 10s from 14 starts.

"I'm excited with how I've played in the majors," Day said.

"It shows I'm doing the right things.

"Obviously I'm putting myself in positions and hopefully one of them falls my way soon and that opens the flood gates."

Day will begin his campaign on Thursday afternoon alongside major winners Martin Kaymer and Zach Johnson.

World number one Adam Scott has also been paired in a heavyweight, major-winning group featuring Justin Rose and Jason Dufner.

Matt Jones is the first of the eight-strong Australian contingent to tee off, at 6:47am local time.